Printing block assembly



Nov. 5, 1957 s. B. HARPER, SR 2,811,784

PRINTING BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed 001:. 29. 1954 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 IA o INVENTOR. Samue/ 5. Harper 8/1 Nov. 5, 1957 s, HARPER, 5 2,811,784

' PRINTING BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent PRINTING BLOCK ASSEMBLY Samuel Burgess Harper, Sr., Shreveport, La.

Application October 29, 1954, Serial No. 465,506

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-1845) The present invention relates to printing blocks for supporting engravers plates in flat bed forms and specifically to one which has means for adjusting the position of the engravers plate on the block.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a means for supporting an engravers plate on a block so that the block may be locked within a form and the plate may be adjusted with minute corrections in order that successive color impressions of the engravers plate may register.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame for supporting an engravers plate for limited movement on a block while adjustments of the engravers plate are made so that successive printing impressions may register correctly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy and foolproof printing block assembly which speeds up the work of adjusting an engravers plate within a printing form so that the engravers plate may be positioned in accurate register within the form.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a frame upon which the engraver can mount the engravers plate before mounting it upon the particular block which will support it when used in a printing form.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention mounted upon a block;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the present invention upon a block;

Figure 3 is an end view of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a partial view in cross section on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed view greatly enlarged of the adjusting element of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows the present invention in partially assembled condition with an engravers plate fixedly received on the frame of the present invention and prior to adjustment of the frame relative to the block;

Figure 7 shows the second step in the operation of adjusting the engravers plate on the block;

Figure 8 shows the block with the L-shaped adjusting members or elements with the frame removed; and

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the frame of the present invention removed from the block.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the invention consists of a block 10 having a flat upper face 11. A frame 12 composed of rigid metal or other sturdy material is superimposed on the face 11 and is provided with a central portion to which is fixedly secured an engravers plate 13. The frame 12 is undercut along its edges in the border portion surrounding the central. portion as indicated most clearly in Figure 4. A shoulder 14 is formed by the countersunk hole 15 on 2,811,784 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 which the lower edge of the head of a screw 16 rests. The hole 15 has a greater diameter than the diameter of the shank of the screw 16 in order to provide limited sliding movement of the frame 12 in all directions upon the top surface 11. The screws 16 and holes 15 in the border portion of the frame 12 which are of greater diameter than the shank-s of the screws 16 constitute means connecting the border portion of the frame 12 to the block 10 for limited sliding movement of the frame relative to the block in all directions.

The frame 12 is also formed with a plurality of cutout portions or recesses 17 on each of its bounding edges exteriorly of the central portion.

An adjusting element consisting of an L-shaped member 18, seen most clearly in Figure 5, has one leg 19 disposed normally to the face 11 and is connected by that leg to the block 10 for rotary movement so that the other leg 20 can bear against the frame 12 within each of the recesses 17.

In operation, screws 16 are tight. An impression is pulled and if the impression is found to be out of register, the legs 20 are swung to a position thought to align the plate. The screw-s 16 are then loosened and the plate moved to the new position against the legs 20 and the screws again tightened and a new impression is pulled, and the process repeated until a perfect impression is produced. As presently provided by the engraver, the plates which are engraved with pictures or illustrations are cemented directly to blocks similar to block 10. The blocks with their plates are locked up in a form and are satisfactorily secured there for one run printing. For printing in color, however, it has been found to be necessary to adjust the blocks so that the second and following colors will register with the first impression.

Previously, it has been necessary to loosen all of the type and blocks within the form to make this adjustment. With the present invention, each individual engravers plate may be adjusted without disturbing the block upon which it is secured or any of the other blocks or type forms within the press form. With the present invention much time and trouble may be saved and the use of color by printers will be greatly advanced for those printers who do not have expensive and large color printing equipment.

While a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been here shown and described, other embodiments may be made and practiced and many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A printing block assembly comprising a block having a flat upper face, a frame superimposed on said face and having a central portion and a border portion, an engravers plate fixedly received on said central portion, means connecting the border portion of said frame to said block for limited sliding movement of said frame relative to said block in all directions, and means on said block engageable with said frame for adjustably positioning said frame with respect to said block.

2. A printing block assembly comprising a block having a fiat upper face, a frame superimposed on said face and having a central portion and a border portion, an engravers plate fixedly received on said central portion, means connecting the border portion of said frame to said block for limited sliding movement of said frame relative to said block in all directions, said frame being provided with recesses on each of its bounding edges, and means on said block engageable with said frame within said recesses for adjustably positioning said frame with respect to said block.

3. A printing block assembly comprising a block having a flat upper face, a frame superimposed on said face and having a central portion and a border portion, an engravers plate fixedly received on said central portion, means connecting the border portion of said frame to said block for limited sliding movement of said frame relative to said block in all directions, said frame being provided with recesses on each of its bounding edges, and an L-shaped member disposed in each recess with one leg normal to said face and connected by said leg to said block for rotary movement thereon, the other of said legs being engageable with said frame for sliding adjustment of the latter with respect to said block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,269 Wiggin Jan. 19, 1892 4 Yundt et a1. Mar. 4, Grainger et a1. Feb. 12, Connelly Nov. 16, Wood Dec. 17, Koppe May 30, Betts et al Jan. 30, Bassett Dec. 23, Chambers Jan. 9, Faeber et a1 June 8,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 10, 

